AuthorTopic: I-49 in Arkansas (Read 689948 times)

Low Bid for Hwy. 72 North to CO. RD. 34 on the Bella Vista Bypass was Kolb Grading, LLC of Mo. of 13,647,413.56. This is for 2.37 miles of two lane roadway and the Interchange at Co. Rd. 34. Also a low bid of 17,173,759.98 was for the interchange at 71 Hwy. and Fort Chaffee crossing. Includes a bridge for Co. Rd. 8 over future I 49 and the Base surface that includes .635 miles.

This article has the latest cost estimate to complete I-49 through Arkansas: $3 billion (with no targeted completion date):

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But that's only one highway project underway in Arkansas. Highway 549 is underway as well, which some day will be named I-49 along the western corridor .... It's an international project passing through Arkansas in bits and pieces, but no timeframe .... "Even though we've spent well in excess of a billion dollars to date, it's going to take us about $3 billion more to complete I-49 in Arkansas," Ort says.

AHTD does not seem to be a team player in terms of keeping Louisiana's I-49 South in the conversation:

Not from Arkansas but I thought Arky had permission to toll the BVB to complete? What's the hold up? Construction rates will never be cheaper than now. Plus if they toll when would they come off?

I'm not sure if the AR Legislature has amended the state constitution yet: if not, it's against the constitution (or maybe the highway charter) to build toll roads. So far, all the work is being done under ARRA.

Logged

a man hears what he wants to hearAnd disregards the rest -- Simon & Garfunkel

This article has the latest cost estimate to complete I-49 through Arkansas: $3 billion (with no targeted completion date):

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But that's only one highway project underway in Arkansas. Highway 549 is underway as well, which some day will be named I-49 along the western corridor .... It's an international project passing through Arkansas in bits and pieces, but no timeframe .... "Even though we've spent well in excess of a billion dollars to date, it's going to take us about $3 billion more to complete I-49 in Arkansas," Ort says.

AHTD does not seem to be a team player in terms of keeping Louisiana's I-49 South in the conversation:

But state Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin, noted that I-49 between Shreveport and the Arkansas border was financed without any tolls.“We have built ourselves to the cornfields or cotton fields or whatever,” Jones said.He said that, when the road was being built, there was a “song and dance” about the need to finish the road because Arkansas planned an I-49 link to Fort Smith, Kansas City, Mo. and eventually Canada.But Jones said when he visited the Arkansas Legislature earlier this year lawmakers there laughed about that notion, which they said would not happen for several lifetimes.The road plan has been discussed since the 1990s.

(bold emphasis supplied by me)

To be fair, their alleged laughter may have simply been a reflection of the lack of money.

Alma Mayor John Ballentine believes the Alma portion is likely to be the last leg of the still-unfunded highway completed because of the costly bridge that must span the Arkansas River.Ballentine reckons the structure will cost $400 million, but that number is a shape-shifter, changing based on who is speaking and what the cost includes.Ken O’Donnell, until recently the director of the Bi-State Metropolitan Planning Organization, said the stated cost is ... $280 million to $320 million. That’s starting with the $100 million for the bridge span itself, then adding approaches, ramps and the other things needed to make it accessible.Because the route approaching the bridge travels through the Kibler bottoms, a flood plain, it might require building a berm or putting the roadway on supports as it extends to the bridge.O’Donnell said costs for the highway on-grade are computed on a linear foot basis. If the roadway is elevated, the cost must be computed on a square-foot basis

The entire article, Some imagine Chester Street for new bridge, is behind a pay wall (curiosity led me to pay 99 cents for a one-day subscription). The good news is that a FEIS has been approved for the entire Texarkana-Fort Smith corridor, but no design work has been done on the bridge:

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Bennett .... cited ... other new bridges in development:The Interstate 49 bridge over the Arkansas River that would connect Interstate 540 at Alma with a U.S. 71 project under construction on a new location in the area of Fort Chaffee. The environmental impact statement has been approved for the entire I-49 corridor between Texarkana and Fort Smith, but no design work has been done on the bridge.

Maybe Bennett describing it as "in development" means the design work on it is at least on the radar screen.

I asked the AHTD bridge department when do they plan to design the I 49 Arkansas River Bridge In the Fort Smith area

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Our bridge program through 2016 does not include that structure.Carl J. Fuselier, P.E.Division Head - BridgeArkansas Highway and Transportation Department

In looking at the Preliminary STIP, I'm mildly disappointed that a relatively small amount of money was not set aside for the design work on the Arkansas River Bridge. Maybe AHTD is waiting to see if the half-cent sales tax passes, which would provide for widening of I-540 and two-lane Bella Vista Bypass, before it even thinks about initiating the design work for the bridge.

In looking at the Preliminary STIP, I'm mildly disappointed that a relatively small amount of money was not set aside for the design work on the Arkansas River Bridge. Maybe AHTD is waiting to see if the half-cent sales tax passes, which would provide for widening of I-540 and two-lane Bella Vista Bypass, before it even thinks about initiating the design work for the bridge.

AHTD is the most ridiculous government (and non gov for that matter) department that I have ever come across.

On the east end, bridge columns are being built for where AR 72 will pass over I-49. The embankment is mostly finished as is prefabricated concrete panels with a faux brickwork design.

On the west end, it is still mostly dirt work. The level of I-49 has still not been completely lowered.

AR 279 South of Hiwasse has been detoured along what appears to be a future frontage road. Bridge columns are going up where I-49 will cross over AR 279. This appears to be a grade separation only with no access to or from I-49.

Logged

a man hears what he wants to hearAnd disregards the rest -- Simon & Garfunkel